It has been a while since I talked about Matthew. The truth is I have been struggling with him these past few weeks! Where does a two and half year old toddler get his energy from and where can I get some to match his? He has the energy to go through anything and to go to every corner. And I have to follow him around and keep a watchful eyes or he’ll be dragging the plant out of the pot or he’ll be on top of the sink playing with water or he’ll be taking out every piece of item from the fridge. (Yap, the eggs in the fridge has been hanging on to dear life ever since Matthew learned to open the fridge by hanging by the handle.) He has the energy to cry for 10 minutes when he doesn’t get what he wants while I can only take 2 minutes of that crying and I’d be so stressed out.

This stage in Matthew’s life is really the most challenging for me so far. I mean, I see myself in deep sighs most of the time in controlling myself from just losing it – my temper and my sanity. He is still adorable, makes me laugh, but he is at the stage when he knows what he wants and what doesn’t want and he has the energy and the persistence to get what he wants and to resist what he doesn’t want. Although, this could be an advantage, it could easily be a disadvantage at the same time- for me anyway. I mean, it’s good that he knows what he wants but when it collides with what I want or what can’t be done… he just throws tantrums and throws himself to the floor, and cries that will just make me crazy! *sigh

He can say “more choc-let” 50 times or more and he doesn’t tire saying it. He would even grab my face to look at him, even though I have already told him “All done.”, “No more.”, “You had enough” and other variations of that. Well, at first it’s cute but … the cuteness can only go so far. It becomes really annoying.

When he throws tantrums, I try to distract him by putting on a movie. I let him choose from the DVD’s we’ve got. I put it on but then, the movie hasn’t even started and he’ll want to change the movie. This will go on for more than five DVD changes. Whatever movie he’ll settle for, he’ll only watch for five minutes and he’ll be off playing by the stairs – going up and down the stairs.

When he goes up the stairs to our room and he doesn’t go down in more than two minutes, and it becomes quiet by the stairs, it’s usually my cue to go up and follow him. I will find him on top of the dresser that’s twice his height. Clothes and the beddings on the floor. By then I’ll be mad, for he knows he shouldn’t be up the dresser and for the mess he did, but then he’ll say “Pretty Mommy ” referring to my picture in his hands that was sitting on the dresser. By then I’m taken and completely distracted.

And who would think that a little person like him could take up so much space? He’s everywhere in a flash ’cause he just won’t settle down in one place and if he does -settle in one place, it’s usually inside the closet going through my shoes or under the bed just waiting for me to find him. Or he would settle inside the toy chest after he has vacated the toy chest with all the toys. With this, our living room would look like there has been a toy explosion.

Matthew

Mealtime is always a mess. He is such a picky eater. I have been trying unsuccessfully so far to make him eat something a little bit healthier than gummy bears, chocolate, noodles and cottage cheese. And I had been trying to wean him from bottle. He drinks water and juice from a cup, but he just won’t drink milk other than from a bottle or a half-pint carton. It’s such a puzzle! He would drink milk from a carton but not off the cup.

At the end of the day, I tell his daddy the events of the day, more like complaining really how Matthew gave me headaches and my hardships throughout the day. His daddy would only laugh, and say “Oh, he’s so funny and so cute! He’s growing up so fast.” Well, Matthew is – growing up so fast. He is developing so much curiosity and self reliance so much to my heightening stress level. But what am I complaining about? It is when he is not energetic that I should be worried and complaining.

By Charlotte

Born and raised in the Philippines - true Filipino by heart, and now living in Alabama with my family! I am wife to Michael, mother to toddler Matthew Alexander and baby Mark Anthony. I am a giveaway enthusiast, aspiring web designer, an artist and lover of life. Thank you for visiting my site!

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